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Yost excited to see infielder Colon back up

KANSAS CITY -- One of the big reasons that manager Ned Yost liked Monday's trade with Toronto is that it enabled the Royals to bring up infielder Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha.

Third baseman Danny Valencia, dealt to the Blue Jays, filled in when needed for Mike Moustakas and sometimes as the right-handed part of a platoon.

"But it created a hole on our roster where we didn't have any protection up the middle if something happened to Omar [Infante] or something happened to [Alcides] Escobar. We didn't have that protection, but we do now," Yost said.

"Danny did a nice job at third base and could fill in for a couple innings at second but Christian gives you more depth at second, short and third. There's more versatility there."

Colon, who can also fill in at third, had a bang-up day on the Fourth of July during his previous stay with the Royals. He had two doubles and a triple, scoring three times in a 7-1 victory at Cleveland.

"That start for me was great but it made it a lot easier when [Yordano] Ventura went out there and pitched that well," Colon said.

Ventura went 8 1/3 innings for the win that day.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.